Esto nian Ja z z
2023
The aim of Jazz Estonia is to develop and promote Estonian jazz music both at home and abroad. Jazz Estonia organises concerts and thematic events, collects and shares information about Estonian jazz music and musicians, supports cooperation between musicians and organisations and searches for financial resources for promoting jazz music.
jazz.ee
info@jazz.ee
«Small country, big jazz!»
– John Cumming
Greetings, jazz lover!
You hold in your hands a compilation album with 29 tracks from the most active Estonian jazz musicians. Only 1.3 million people live in Estonia; it’s extraordinary how much music has been created by so few. And what’s more: very diverse music! This record is a sampling of that rich and surprising output. May you find in it some new favorite artists and many hours of listening pleasure. Enjoy!
Yours truly, Jazz Estonia
Listen here!
CD1
Kristjan Randalu
randalu.com
info@randalu.com
newwindjazzorchestra.com
info@nwjo.ee
Kristjan Randalu belongs to the most sought-after piano players of his generation, carrying the torch in both the improvised world of jazz and the traditional realm of classical music. Following his ECM debut Absence, Randalu’s recent outing with the New Wind Jazz Orchestra, «Sisu» (Whirlwind Recordings) won the «Jazz Album of the Year» at the Estonian Music Awards 2023. New Wind Jazz Orchestra (NWJO) combines a young and fierce temperament with professional mastery. Founded in 2018, the new generation of musicians aims to take Estonian jazz orchestral culture to an international level by collaborating with the best composers and conductors from Estonia and abroad. Led by saxophonist Lauri Kadalipp, the big band loves to challenge itself with new challenges and professional repertoire.
See Pole See Trio
facebook.com/seepoleseetrio
kytt.jana@gmail.com
See Pole See Trio – upcycling Estonian 60’s pop music into multi-layered textiles. Imagine Estonian language, tenor saxophone with live-electronics, bass and accordion. Add modern improvisation, nordic aesthetics and direct expression rooted in the up-coming un-known as well as intimacy of silence.
TamTam
facebook.com/duotamtam
tamtamduoduo@gmail.com
TamTam is the captivating duo of Estonian vocalist Anett Tamm and bass guitarist Karl Tammaru. Their main strengths are combining jazz and indie music in a unique way and striving for a minimalistic approach without compromising compositional versatility. In 2023 TamTam released their debut album «Slumber Picture».
Ara Yaralyan
facebook.com/arayaralyan
ayaralyan@yahoo.com
Ara Yaralyan is a bass player and composer. Besides his own trio he also plays in the jazz guitar trio Sooäär/Yaralyan/ Ounaskari, performing frequently in Estonia and abroad. He has performed with many internationally known musicians, such as Ingrid Jensen, Kari Ikonen, Vardan Ovsepian.
Janno Trump
jannotrump.com
info@jannotrump.com
Janno Trump is one of the most esteemed bass players of the younger generation in Estonia. He is primarily active as a jazz musician, but has also performed and recorded with a wide variety of pop and rock artists. Janno has written music for both smaller jazz ensembles and big bands, he has been the artistic director of several major music projects and is the leader of the groups JT Conception and Janno Trump Clarity Ensemble.
Joel Remmel
joelremmel.com
info@joelremmel.com
Joel Remmel is one of the brightest pianists in the Estonian jazz scene, appreciated both as an ensemble partner and as a solo performer. He has been leading his ensemble Joel Remmel Trio since 2011, which was awarded «Jazz Ensemble of the Year» in 2021. Their latest release «Kevad» won «Jazz Album of the Year» in 2022. Since winning «Jazz Musician of the Year» in 2020, Joel has focused more on his solo music. His latest album «Vaimustav Looja» is a tribute to the spiritual songs and hymns that have guided him through his life.
Elajannad
mingorajandi.com
mingorajandi@gmail.com
Mingo Rajandi is an Estonian composer and double bass player based in Brussels. She leads several ensembles and works in interdisciplinary settings with actors, dancers, writers and visual artists. In her music, Mingo likes experimenting with various styles and forms, bringing together musicians from classical and improvised music backgrounds. In 2022 she began working with theatre director and actress Eva Koldits on a performance called «Elajannad». Mingo composed an entire programme of music for this, which has now been recorded and released as an album. The band consists of Estonia’s most esteemed musicians each bringing their unique voice to Mingo’s music. Cinematic and expressive, this music is a journey through the complexity of a woman’s life, its ups and downs, from hell to paradise
Sooäär/Yaralyan/Ounaskari
facebook.com/SooaarYaralyanOunaskari
jaak@sooaar.com
trio
Sooäär/Yaralyan/Ounaskari trio was established in spring 2016 and they have so far released three albums: «A Shooting Star» (2018), «Goodbye July» (2020) and «Zula» (2023). Last year they were awarded «Jazz Ensemble of the Year».
Mathei Florea
matheiflorea.com
matheiflorea@gmail.com
Mathei Florea’s New Grounds is an eight-member Tallinn/Berlin based modern and Nordic jazz band founded and led by pianist Mathei Florea. A standard jazz quartet combined with strings becomes a musical delight, mixing modern jazz with classical music in compositions greatly inspired by Petros Klampanis and Arvo Pärt.
Anna Regina Kalk
facebook.com/annaregina.kalk
annareginakalk@gmail.com
Anna Regina Kalk first picked up the guitar when she was 12. She has studied in Estonia and in Germany and is currently finishing her master studies in Bern, Switzerland with Ronny Graupe, Kalle Kalima, Django Bates and Jim Black among others. Anna plays and composes in various lineups such as EDNA, Kalk/Baillod/Kaeser, Noblique and Assonance. She is the winner of the Estonian Young Guitarist Award 2022.
facebook.com/madismuulmusic
madismuul@gmail.com
Led by Estonian pianist, keyboardist and composer Madis Muul, the Tallinn-based ensemble LUUM is known for their cosmic, cinematic sound. Comprised of members Madis Muul (pianist and composer), Raimond Mägi (double bass), Karl-Juhan Laanesaar (drums) and Allan Järve (trumpet), LUUM’s approach to music is mystical and picturesque, masterfully rendering lush sonic scenery.
LUUM
Andre Maaker
andremaaker.com
andremaaker@gmail.com
In collaboration with the Prezioso String Quartet, guitarist Andre Maaker is exploring and enjoying the rich sounds of classical guitar with a string quartet. It was love at first note! In addition to song-like pieces, Maaker has also composed a 40-minute work called «Old Church» for this ensemble.
Sofia Rubina
sofiarubina.eu
sofiarubin@gmail.com
Sofia Rubina is an energetic, colourful, cheery and optimistic singer seamlessly blending all your favourite genres with her band. Whether you are dancing in your kitchen or your local club, she is ready to join you there. Rubina’s catchy tunes and infectious grooves have brought her to perform in different places around the world, from the famous Blue Note in New York to the far corners of Asia. Now she is eager to meet you next!
CD2
Maria Faust
mariafaust.com
furiafaust@gmail.com
Maria Faust is one of the most celebrated jazz musicians from Estonia, currently living in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is best known for her work in the fields of experimental jazz and other alternative music styles. Faust is a multiple winner of Danish Music Awards (2014, 2017 and 2020) and Estonian Music Awards (2021 and 2023).
Peedu Kass
peedukass.com
info@peedukass.com
Bassist and composer Peedu Kass is a household name in the Estonian music scene. Having been awarded «Jazz Composer of the Year», his recent commissions include a bass concerto for chamber orchestra, the opening concert of the 2022 Jazzkaar festival, «Ode To The Forest» and the performance of Peedu Kass Momentum featuring Bugge Wesseltoft as the guest artist.
Titoks
facebook.com/Titoksid
titoksofficial@gmail.com
Titoks’ virtuosic, bright, technically demanding and attentiongrabbing music combines the traditional sound with compositional methods rarely used in gypsy jazz. They take the listener on a journey in a time machine, exploring nostalgic melodies and lively swing rhythms from the 1930s while incorporating a modern spark. Titoks has been active as an ensemble from 2016. Since then they have performed on over 110 different stages in more than 11 countries. In 2018 they recorded their debut album «When Day is Done» and in 2022 their second album «Titoks».
Kirke Karja
kirkekarja@gmail.com
Kirke Karja is a pianist and composer characterised by her original harmonic musical language and experimental, uncompromising performances. She is the leader of Kirke Karja Quartet, Captain Kirke and the Klingons and Karja/Renard/Wandinger.
Kaspar Kalluste
kasparkalluste.com
kaspar.kalluste@gmail.com
Kaspar Kalluste is a diverse and sought-after drummer, producer and composer who has been working for several years with the top names in Estonian jazz and pop scene. He has won «Young Jazz Talent» (2012) and was chosen to be a member of Estonian Dream Pop Group in 2013. His latest minimalistic and multi-layered album «Humanoid» mixes the colours of jazz with electronics.
Karl Petti
karlpetti.com
karlpetti@gmail.com
Karl Petti is a guitarist and composer who prefers composition to improvisation, simplicity to complexity, reverb to dryness, synthesizer to acoustic guitar and minor to major. In 2022 he formed a trio with Indrek Mällo on bass and Karl-Markus Kohv on drums.
Allianss
facebook.com/allianssss
karltammaru123@gmail.com
Allianss is a jazzrock group from Tallinn, Estonia. Started by Karl Tammaru in early 2018, its goal is to make music with a specific touch of «weirdness». These are tunes that are fun to play and listen to, but also make you want to move yourself. Their music is a tasteful symbiosis between the composed parts and improvisation with a lot of emphasis on detail and precision.
raimondmagi.com
magiraimond@gmail.com
IHA is a mix of modern jazz, electronica, alternative rock and classical music. Raimond Mägi mainly focuses on playing bass guitar, double bass and electronics with various samplers, synthesizers, euroracks and effect pedals. He has been involved in music for approximately 15 years. Mägi’s main motivation to continuously create music comes from the energy he receives when listening to rock, blues, metal and experimental music. He believes that energetic intensity has to always shine through in music. Such intensity comes from the sincerity of players.
IHA
Rahel Talts
facebook.com/RahelTaltsMusic
raheltalts@gmail.com
Rahel Talts is an Estonian jazz pianist and composer who currently lives and studies in Denmark. As a leader or a band member she participates in several bands and projects, mainly in Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania. Talts leads the 14-member Rahel Talts
Ensemble with whom they have also released an album. Talts loves to play traditional jazz and bebop, but she is also very much into modern melodic jazz with Nordic, folk, gospel and fusion influences.
Maarja Aarma MA
facebook.com/maarja.aarma.ma
merylin@mym.ee
Maarja Aarma MA captures the attention of every audience. Soul, neo-soul, vocal pop and Scandinavian jazz have influenced their albums «Connected Through» (2019) and «Queenland» (2022). The beats, sounds and melodies of the band – Maarja Aarma (vocals), Janno Trump (bass), Madis Muul (piano, keys) and Dmitri Nikolajevski (drums) – guide the listener through powerful stories in music.
Faershtein
faershtein.com
sasjaz@gmail.com
«Faershtein is translated as firestone, and this artist name to me is a symbol of energy and mystery of the first spark in each new idea,» says Aleksandr Žedeljov aka Faershtein.
Aleksandr Žedeljov is a composer, musician, and producer. He has created chamber music, played in bands, collaborated with many artists, participated at theatre shows, film scores, fashion shows, media exhibitions, and sound installations.
He is the creator and producer of Modulshtein, Triophonix, Audiokinetica and many other temporary art projects.
Mingo Rajandi
mingorajandi.com
mingorajandi@gmail.com
Mingo Rajandi is an Estonian composer and double bass player based in Brussels. She leads several ensembles and works in interdisciplinary settings with actors, dancers, writers and visual artists. In her music, Mingo likes experimenting with various styles and forms, bringing together musicians from classical and improvised music backgrounds. In 2020 she was awarded «Jazz Composer of the Year» and she has also won the Estonian Theatre Award for best original music.
The five members of the ensemble, each with a strongly personal musical handwriting, together form a unified organism, the internal combustion of which in live concerts can rise to high temperatures.
Robert Jürjendal
robertjyrjendal.com
Robert Jürjendal is an Estonian guitarist and composer. He has written music for mixed ensembles and choirs, but also for documentaries, art exhibitions and theatre productions. Jürjendal has recorded over 60 albums and played with Weekend Guitar Trio, UMA, Markus Reuter, Tim Bowness, Jan Bang, Colin Edwin, Arve Henriksen, Jon Durant and Sandor Szabo among others.
Maria Väli
mariavali.com
mariav2li@gmail.com
Maria Väli is an Estonian jazz singer, composer, arranger and vocal coach. She is the soprano of an awarded a cappella ensemble Estonian Voices and also leads her own band Maria Väli Quartet. Väli has performed together with many internationally known bands and artists, Terje Bjørklund, Arve Henriksen, Take - 6, Club For Five, Accent and Bobby McFerrin among others.
Siim Aimla
facebook.com/SiimAimlaFunkBand/ siimaimla@gmail.com
Siim Aimla is a jazz musician, saxophonist, arranger, conductor and teacher. He studied in Metropolia University in Helsinki, Pop/Jazz Conservatory in Helsinki and the Estonian Music Academy. Aimla is the artistic director of Estonian Dream Big Band (since 2009) and leader of the Police and Boarder Guard Big Band (since 2006). He has released numerous albums, including «Pühendus» with Tafenau-Aimla Quintet, «Finest Groove» with Siim Aimla Quartet, «Mu süda, ärka üles» with Helin-Mari Arder and Siim Aimla Band and «Grab It!» with Liina Saar and Tallinn Riga Jazz Quartet.
Kalle Pilli Quintet
kallepilli.com
kallepilli@gmail.com
Kalle Pilli Quintet is an Estonian jazz band formed in Tallinn in 2018. Their repertoire comprises a blend of jazz, pop, fusion and contemporary music genres, composed by the band leader, Kalle Pilli. In 2022 they released their debut album «Lantau».
